DANVILLE (WSLS10) - Two development companies want to turn a Danville warehouse into a 23-unit apartment complex.
The River District Association's executive director, Ernecia Coles, said turning the old tobacco warehouse at 549 High Street into an apartment complex would be a big magnet, drawing people to downtown.
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The city's planning commission has just recommended approving a special-use permit, which the developers have to have in order to begin renovation.
These apartments would not only bring people downtown to live in the apartments, but the River District Association's hope is that the apartments will encourage development of other blighted buildings in the downtown area and that would attract even more people to downtown, which the association believes is a key to reducing crime.
"As Danville is able to attract more people to the area, they're able to give to a number of organizations, non-profit organizations, that are in turn trying to assist in that battle by working with the youth, working with young adults, and helping with job training," Coles emphasized.
She said most of the apartments in the downtown area are currently occupied, so she is confident people would be eager to live in these apartments.
City council is expected to vote on the special use permit next month.